Meeting Date: January 22, 2019 COUNCIL COMMUNICATION Agenda Item: Agenda Location: Consent Calendar Goal(s): Legal Review: 1 st Reading X 2 nd Reading Subject: An ordinance approving a Rezoning of approximately six acres of property to Community Retail and amending the Official Zoning Map to allow for the development of commercial land uses for property generally located at the northeast corner of East 144 th Avenue and Washington Street (Stargate Commercial). Recommended by: Jeff Coder Approved by: Kevin S. Woods Ordinance previously Presenter(s): Grant Penland, Planning Director introduced by: Matkowsky SYNOPSIS: The applicant is proposing to rezone the property from Business Park to Community Retail for a proposed commercial development. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends Alternative No. 1, to approve the Rezoning. BUDGET/STAFF IMPLICATIONS: None. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Approve the Rezoning. 2. Deny the Rezoning. 3. Revise the Rezoning in response to specific Council direction. BACKGROUND (ANALYSIS/NEXT STEPS/HISTORY): (includes previous City Council action) The proposed rezoning complies with the following criteria for a zoning amendment: 1. Growth and other development factors in the community support changing the zoning. Growth and development in the immediate area support a change in zoning for the property. The Stargate Charter School was constructed directly north of the site, with the six-acre parcel remaining on the immediate corner of East 144 th Avenue and Washington Street. A Community Retail land use designation would accommodate commercial-retail uses that are appropriate at the intersection of two major arterials. 2. The change in zoning represents orderly development of the City and there are, or are planned to be, adequate services and infrastructure to support the proposed zoning change and existing uses in the area.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION PAGE 2 There are adequate existing or planned services to support the proposed development. Water, sewer, stormwater, and transportation infrastructure will be constructed to serve the development. 3. The change in zoning provides for an appropriate land use of the property. The proposed rezoning would allow for commercial-retail land uses which are appropriate at the corner of two major arterial roadways. 4. The change in zoning is in substantial conformance with the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan and other adopted plans and policies of the City. A concurrent Comprehensive Plan Amendment proposes to change the future land use designation of the property to Commercial. The request supports applicable Comprehensive Plan policies, including the following: Policy 6.2.1: Promote the development and maintenance of healthy, viable commercial centers. Strategy 5.5: Promote neighborhood Retail-Commercial Revitalization, Redevelopment as well as New Development. Strategy 6.4: Preserve and Enhance Retail Sales Base. 5. The proposed zoning is sensitive to and compatible with the existing and planned use and development of adjacent properties. The proposed zoning designation promotes cohesiveness with surrounding land uses and zoning designations, and the ideals of orderly community growth and integration of the development to surrounding areas. PUBLIC NOTICE AND RESPONSE: Public Notification: A public notice of the hearing was published on the City s official website and at City Hall, the Margaret W. Carpenter Recreation Center, and the Thornton Active Adult Center on December 20, 2018. All property owners within at least 1,500 feet of this site were sent notice of the public hearing ten days prior to January 8, 2019. Notification of the City Council hearing was posted on the property ten days prior to the January 8, 2019 public hearing. Public Response: Neighborhood meetings were held on May 7, 2018 and November 8, 2018 to present and discuss the proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Rezoning, and CSP. Approximately 42 area residents, property owners, and Stargate Charter School parents attended these meetings. Many concerns were raised about traffic and congestion issues, particularly during school drop-off and pick-up times. Parents were concerned that the location of the day care would cause additional congestion issues and suggested that the day care be moved to a different location on the site. Attendees raised additional questions and concerns including having adequate parking, proposed uses, health impacts of the gas station, drainage, too many uses on the site, opposition to the shared access, hours of operation, lighting, building design and appearance, and school safety.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION PAGE 3 Another meeting was held at Stargate Charter School on December 3, 2018 to further discuss traffic and circulation concerns with school parents and staff. Approximately 42 people were in attendance. School representatives provided additional history of the property and the school development. The school and the developer addressed additional questions and concerns pertaining to traffic and circulation within the site. Additional questions were raised pertaining to pedestrian connectivity, public roadway improvements, security and safety during construction, and fencing between the properties. The developer also highlighted two site improvements to help with traffic issues: a gate to be installed on school property and a restricted access from the shared drive near the northwest corner of the site. HISTORY: The property was annexed into the City on July 23, 1990 by Ordinance No. 1994 and subsequently zoned Business Park. The Stargate Charter School Subdivision plat was recorded on April 9, 2015 to subdivide the property into six tracts for the transfer of ownership and to grant easements. The Stargate Charter School Subdivision, Amendment No. 1 plat was recorded on July 26, 2018 to replat all tracts for the transfer of ownership and to grant easements. On January 8, 2019, City Council approved a Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Conceptual Site Plan, and Rezoning (first reading) for the proposed commercial development.
INTRODUCED BY: Matkowsky AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A REZONING OF APPROXIMATELY SIX ACRES OF PROPERTY TO COMMUNITY RETAIL AND AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP TO ALLOW FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIAL LAND USES FOR PROPERTY GENERALLY LOCATED AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF EAST 144 TH AVENUE AND WASHINGTON STREET (STARGATE COMMERCIAL). WHEREAS, Big Dry Creek Investors, LLC is the owner (Owner) and Evergreen Devco, Inc. is the applicant (Applicant) of certain real property (Property) within the City described in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference; and WHEREAS, the Property is currently zoned Business Park (BP); and WHEREAS, the Owner has submitted to the City an application to rezone the Property to Community Retail; and WHEREAS, the proposed application is consistent with the goals and desires of the City, provides for orderly growth within the City, and provides for a beneficial and efficient use of the Property; and WHEREAS, the aforesaid request and all supporting documents are hereby incorporated as if fully set forth herein; and WHEREAS, the application is a matter of public record in the custody of the City Development Department, and is available for public inspection during business hours of the City; and WHEREAS, on January 8, 2019, the City Council conducted a public hearing on said application, pursuant to the procedural and notice requirements of the City Charter and Chapter 18 of the Thornton City Code. The Council considered the evidence presented in support of and in opposition to the application; the applicable zoning requirements; the City s Comprehensive Plan; and staff recommendations; and have considered the record and given appropriate weight to the evidence. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF THORNTON, COLORADO, AS FOLLOWS: 1. That it is found that the Owner and the City have complied with the provisions of Section 18-41 of the Thornton City Code pertaining to zoning applications. 2. The City Council finds that the Application meets the criteria in Section 18-41 of the Thornton City Code for Zoning Amendments as follows:
a. Growth and other development factors in the community support changing the zoning. b. The change in zoning represents orderly development of the City and there are, or are planned to be, adequate services and infrastructure to support the proposed zoning change and existing uses in the area. c. The change in zoning provides for an appropriate use of the Property. d. The change in zoning is in substantial conformance with the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan and other adopted plans and policies of the City. e. The proposed zoning is sensitive to and compatible with the existing and planned use and development of adjacent properties. 3. The Stargate Commercial application to rezone the Property from BP to Community Retail (CR) is hereby approved with the following conditions: a. Approval of the Application does not waive any additional requirements of the development as established with the Subdivision Plat, Developer s Agreement, or any Development Permit associated with the Property. b. At the time of submitting a request for a Development Permit, the Owner shall provide a landscape plan that is consistent with the City s water-wise landscape regulations which emphasizes the use of drought-tolerant materials. c. Prior to the development of the Property, a Subdivision Plat shall be recorded to create developable lots and grant easements necessary to serve the development. d. Public Land Dedication shall be satisfied as outlined with the approved Conceptual Site Plan. Timing of the improvements shall be determined in the Developer s Agreement required for the development. 4. The conditions in this ordinance shall run with the land and be binding upon the Owner, its successors and assigns. 5. This ordinance shall take effect upon final passage. 2
INTRODUCED, READ, PASSED on first reading, ordered posted in full, and title ordered published by the City Council of the City of Thornton, Colorado, on January 8, 2019. PASSED AND ADOPTED on second and final reading on, 2019. CITY OF THORNTON, COLORADO ATTEST: Jan Kulmann, Mayor Pro Tem Kristen N. Rosenbaum, City Clerk THIS ORDINANCE IS ON FILE IN THE CITY CLERK S OFFICE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION. APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM: Luis A. Corchado, City Attorney PUBLICATION: Posted at City Hall, Margaret W. Carpenter Recreation Center, and Thornton Active Adult Center after first and second readings. Published on the City s official website after first reading on January 9, 2019, and after second and final reading on, 2019. 3